"Fire is no respecter of life or property. It just doesn't care who lives or dies. The Kaikohe community needs to really think about that when it comes to maintaining the numbers required in the brigade, because if that inferno had resulted in deaths this whole community would have had to share the responsibility of the tragedy, especially if it involved the lives of children."
Mr Hutchinson said it was fortunate there weren't as many children at the centre as usual when the fire broke out - 13 instead of 40-plus - because the outcome could have been very different.
"I'm really thankful the staff managed to safely evacuate everyone to an assembly area, where a check confirmed all children and staff were accounted for. The centre obviously has very good emergency procedures in place, and I congratulate them for that," he said.
It was at times like Wednesday's fire that escape plans and regular fire drills paid off, he added, and he had no doubt that some very grateful families were hugging their kids and reflecting on that "right now".
His brigade had struggled to find enough firefighters to crew two appliances, however, and while that had not affected the outcome this time, it was only a matter of time before it did.
"It will end in tears for someone if we don't fill the numbers within the brigade," Mr Hutchinson said.
"This fire has again prompted me to tell people that when you want the fire brigade we will attend, but don't always expect us to be there as quick as you want because the fire crew may have to come from another town up to 35 kilometres away. I don't want to say, 'You were warned' after the next serious fire."
An open day at the fire station last month, and notices in every school newsletter, had failed to spark a single response, despite reaching more than 1000 homes with at least 2000 mums, dads and caregivers.
Mr Hutchinson said those who, through no fault of their own had no jobs to go to, might consider joining.
"If they meet the criteria to join the brigade their support could make a huge and immediate difference to us," he said.
Another problem was that employers would not, or could not, release volunteers during the day. That was a fact he understood - he could not always respond to alarms because of his Far North District Council and Civil Defence commitments - but it did compound the problem.
Kawakawa Chief Fire Officer Wayne Martin said his brigade faced similar problems.
"We struggle to get even one crew during the day, and can't guarantee we'll get a truck out. These are pretty desperate times," he said.
Even when the brigade did get a crew together it sometimes had to wait up to 10 minutes while volunteers made their way to the station because firefighters in town couldn't leave work.
"People just aren't into volunteering as much these days, and employers don't want to release staff because they say it's too big a cost," he added.
Kaikohe Fire Brigade currently has 22 members, but many are not available during the day because they work out of town or employers won't release them. That leaves a core of just five or six firefighters during the day, including the CFO. The brigade is supposed to have 30 members, with about 15 available at any one time. A minimum of 10, some of whom need to be experienced, is needed to man two appliances.
Anyone who might be interested in joining the Kaikohe brigade is urged to call Mr Hutchinson on (0274) 379-947, or to drop in at the station on Monday nights from 7pm.
